Deer Park Baptist Church sits on Old University Boulevard in North Charleston, South Carolina, where Pastor Stephen Carr has pastored since December 2009. The church describes itself as a family that gathers to celebrate the presence of God and to live out the calling He has placed on its members where they live, work, and play. On a typical Sunday morning you will find a strong family atmosphere, biblical preaching, and what the pastors call a genuine blended worship experience, with Sunday School for every age followed by congregational worship at eleven o'clock.
Sunday Mornings on Old University Boulevard
Sunday School meets at 9:45 AM for every age from infants to senior adults, and worship follows at 11:00 AM. The worship service runs about an hour and includes prayer, Scripture reading, and biblical preaching. Music is a blend of timeless hymns and modern worship songs, all centered on lifting up the name of Jesus. Visitors are welcome in jeans or a suit and tie; the church family is made up of people from all walks of life, and the dress code is whatever makes a guest comfortable.
For those who want to get involved before walking in the door, a Connect Card can be filled out online so that someone from the church can be ready to greet you when you arrive.
From Fawns to Bucks: A Children's Ministry for Every Stage
Deer Park's family ministry begins in the nursery. During both the Sunday School hour and the worship service, the church cares for nursery children (0 to 18 months) and toddlers (18 months to 3 years) in a safe, Christ-centered setting. Volunteers are background-checked, trained in child safety, and use interactive play, music, and story times to begin laying a foundation of faith.
At 9:45 AM, two elementary Sunday School classes meet using The Gospel Project curriculum, which walks through the whole story of the Bible in age-appropriate ways. The Antlers class serves elementary 1 and the Bucks class serves elementary 2, with a separate offering for 4 to 6 year olds. Children's Church is available during the 11:00 AM worship service for children Pre-K through second grade, so parents can focus on the sermon while little ones learn at their own level.
On Sunday evenings at 5:30 PM in the upstairs Education Wing (Bucks Classroom), two long-running missions discipleship groups meet: Girls in Action (GA's) for girls in kindergarten through fifth grade, and Royal Ambassadors (RA's) for boys in the same age range. Through GA's and RA's, children learn about, pray for, give to, and do missions work, while building friendships along the way.
Children's Ministry Leader Jeanne Carr oversees the children's programs, and a simple, secure child check-in process is used for all nursery, preschool, and elementary-aged kids. Parents check in at the Deer Park Kids Check-In Station at the entrance to the Education Building, receive a name tag for the child and a matching pickup tag for themselves, and present the pickup tag after service to collect their child.
Students and Revive: Grades 6 Through College
Middle and high school students (grades 6 through 12) meet in the Deer Park Students ministry, and college-age and young adults gather in Revive. Both groups are organized as small groups through the church's online group directory, so students can plug in alongside peers at their own life stage.
Adult Sunday School: Six Classes with Six Different Shapes
Six Sunday School classes for adults meet at 9:45 AM, each with its own character.
- Adults 1, led by Matt Dawson and David Weeks on the second floor of the Education Building, is a diverse group of married and single adults whose discussion-based teaching follows The Gospel Project curriculum.
- Adults 2, led by Bobby Hodge and Bob Ketchem, is a small, close-knit group that values wisdom, prayer, and deepening the walk with Christ through both Scripture and fellowship.
- Living Waters, led by Tom and Myra Huckabee, meets in the Senior Adult Building and welcomes both in-person and online participants via Zoom, making it one of the larger classes.
- Lydia, led by Linda Watkins and Sondra Kucklick, is designed especially for women aged 55 and older and includes several widows, with deep study of Scripture and lasting friendships.
- Gleaners, led by Bill Blanton, meets in the Chapel and offers teaching, music, and video presentations each week, drawing primarily senior adults who enjoy thoughtful biblical teaching and a worshipful atmosphere.
- Marriage & Family, led by Earl and Jackie Whiteley, meets on the second floor of the Education Building for couples and parents seeking practical, Bible-based teaching on strengthening marriages and families.
Contact Pastor Andrew for help finding the right fit.
Go-Getters: Senior Adults Fifty and Forward
The Go-Getters ministry serves adults ages 50 and up. From September through May, the group meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 1:00 PM for a potluck lunch, where the church provides the meat and everyone brings their favorite sides and desserts. Each gathering includes food, fellowship, and lighthearted entertainment. The Go-Getters also sponsor special outings, seasonal get-togethers, and mission projects. One of the group's key efforts is assembling bags of essential items for prison ministry, alongside supporting other local and global outreach initiatives of the church.
Monday Morning Steel: Men's Breakfast Bible Study
Deer Park men gather every Monday morning at 6:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall for the Monday Men's Breakfast Bible Study. The morning includes a hearty breakfast, meaningful Bible study, honest conversation, and time in prayer with brothers in Christ. The group follows the encouragement of Proverbs 27:17: Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Whether a regular or brand new, any man is welcome.
Wednesday Nights in the Chapel: Midweek Prayer
On Wednesdays at 5:30 PM, Pastor Stephen leads a midweek prayer gathering in the Chapel. The hour begins with a brief Bible study, moves into meaningful reflection and discussion, then opens up prayer needs before settling into focused prayer together. The church considers prayer a top priority, and anyone with a request can submit it through the prayer page on the church's site.
Thursday Nights: A Multi-Generational Bible Study
On Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM, adults of every generation gather upstairs in the Education Building for the Thursday Night Bible Study. The relaxed evening includes food, fellowship, worship, Bible study, and open discussion as the group shares life together in pursuit of Christ. Contact Garrett Waits for more information.
Loving the Neighbors: The Food Pantry on Tuesdays and Thursdays
The Deer Park Food Pantry is open every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 11:00 AM, with entry at the Senior Building North Entrance. The pantry provides essential groceries to individuals and families in need throughout the community. To reserve a food service, call the church office at 843-553-1172 ext. 125.
The ministry depends on a team of volunteers who distribute food on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, pick up donations throughout the week, sort supplies, and keep the outdoor Blessing Box stocked for immediate community needs.
Around the World Through the Acts 1:8 Team
The Acts 1:8 Team organizes Deer Park's mission efforts around the pattern of Acts 1:8, sending the church out to its immediate community (Jerusalem), its surrounding region and country (Judea and Samaria), and across the world (the ends of the earth). The team's primary goal is to carry out both the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-39) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) through partnerships that emphasize personal involvement in prayer, financial giving, and active participation.
The team currently includes Andrew Blalock, Stephen Carr, Tony Owens, Beth Stokes, Garrett Waits, and Cindy Watts. Mission trips follow a careful timeline, from a Mission Trip Proposal Form submitted at least ten months ahead through final balance and debrief reports after the trip. All mission trip participants are expected to adhere to the doctrinal beliefs of Deer Park Baptist Church.
The church also supports Operation Christmas Child year-round, with a monthly emphasis item. In August, for example, the focus is a $10 donation to cover evangelism materials, processing, shipping, and training, since one shoebox reaches an average of ten people, including the child's family members and friends. Contact Cindy Watts for more information.
What Deer Park Believes
Deer Park's statement of faith is rooted in the Bible as the written, God-breathed revelation of Himself to humanity. The church confesses one living and true God who reveals Himself eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, distinct in person but undivided in nature and being. God the Father reigns with providential care over His universe and is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Christ is the eternal Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, who honored the divine law by His personal obedience and made provision for the redemption of humanity from sin through His substitutionary death on the cross. The Holy Spirit is fully divine and at work in the world today, exalting Christ, convicting of sin, and enlightening and empowering believers and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.
Man is the special creation of God, made in His image as male and female, and every person of every race possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love. Salvation involves the redemption of the whole person and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, including regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification.
The church practices Christian baptism by immersion of a believer, an act of obedience symbolizing faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to sin, and resurrection to walk in newness of life. Looking forward, Deer Park confesses that God will bring the world to its appropriate end in His own time and in His own way: Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly, the dead will be raised, Christ will judge all people in righteousness, the unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, and the righteous will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
Meet the Pastors and Ministry Leaders
Stephen Carr began serving as Pastor of Deer Park Baptist Church in December 2009. He and his wife Pam were married in December 1990 and have two children and two grandchildren. Stephen earned a B.S. from the University of South Carolina, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from North Greenville University. He enjoys hunting, fishing, golf, and hiking to waterfalls with Pam.
Andrew Blalock serves as Associate Pastor and is the primary contact for adults and Sunday School. Pam McCall leads the church's worship music, and Jeanne Carr oversees the children's ministry. Katie Guffey directs the on-site Child Development Center. The staff and ministry leaders at Deer Park are more than a team; they describe themselves as a family with Christ at the center.
Plan Your First Visit
Deer Park wants first-time guests to feel at ease. A Sunday morning begins with coffee and Sunday School at 9:45 AM, followed by blended worship at 11:00 AM that lasts about an hour. The dress code ranges from jeans to suits, and the welcome extends to people from every background.
Parking
Three parking areas serve the campus. The small front lot is reserved primarily for senior adults and those with limited mobility. Side parking is available along the side of the building. The largest lot is in the back, closest to the Fellowship Hall, Church Office, and Education Building, and is the best choice for families because it provides easy access to children's classrooms and the check-in station. Families are encouraged to enter through the Education Building entrance.
Where to Go
The campus is laid out around a central cluster of buildings. The Worship Center sits at the heart of the morning gathering. The Education Building houses children's and family ministries. The Senior Adult Building includes the Food Pantry entrance on the north side. The Fellowship Hall hosts Monday morning men's breakfast and other gatherings. The Church Office is the hub for staff and communication, and a Playground serves the youngest members of the church family.
Bringing Children
First-time guests can register their family online before arriving. On Sunday, head to the Deer Park Kids Check-In Station at the entrance to the Education Building, where a volunteer will help with check-in, give a name tag to the child and a matching pickup tag to the parent, and walk the family to the right classroom. The pickup tag is required when collecting a child after service.
Deer Park Child Development Center
Sharing the campus with the church is the Deer Park Child Development Center, a weekday preschool and early learning program whose mission is to support families with preschoolers and young children by providing a loving, nurturing environment for learning. Teachers hold certifications or degrees in education or have multiple years of experience working with children, and all are CPR and First Aid certified, with annual training and background checks required. Low classroom ratios are a point of pride.
Daily activities include Bible lessons, art, music, dramatic play, science and nature, math concepts, manipulatives, and fine and gross motor skills. The 4K class uses the Get Set for School curriculum from Handwriting Without Tears for readiness, language, and math lessons. Enrichment activities for 3K and 4K include Music and Movement, Kids on Mission, Art Class, and WOW (World of Wonders), which extends theme topics into math, science, and social studies. Learning Labs, Creative Cooking classes, mission projects, and special events are offered throughout the year.
School hours run 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, with classes for 2K, 3K, and 4K offered three, four, or five days per week. A 1s class is available based on interest, and a daily Lunch Bunch option runs 12:20 PM to 1:00 PM. The center follows the Berkeley County School district calendar for breaks, teacher workdays, and inclement weather. Director Katie Guffey can be reached at deerparkcdc@gmail.com or 843-553-1172 ext. 121.
Worship Online and Stay Connected
For those unable to attend in person, the worship service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, Facebook, and Boxcast. Online giving is available through the church's giving platform, and monthly newsletters and weekly announcements are posted on the church's news page. The contact form on the church's site accepts both prayer requests and general messages, and prayer requests can also be submitted directly on the prayer page.
Deer Park Baptist Church is a place where people pray, teach, serve, and eat together across generations, anchored by the conviction that the Word of God is true and trustworthy and that every person of every race possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.